Folding table with paired legs



June 28, 1949. F. J. WOODRUFF FOLDING TABLE WITH PAIRED LEGS Filed April 28, 1948 INVENTOR. I 774/7626 xz fl ddlr'az Patented June 28, 1949 ZA'MAS This invention relate'slto 'new and useful im provement's infoldingntablesa An important object-crime presentinvention is to provide a;- foldingv t'able construction which eliminates thinecessity sing? hinges to fast'en the supportihglegsto the top" ofthe' tame.-

Anothe'r-"o'bject'of theinvntionis to provide a support foldingetable' constructibn whereinthe ing le'gs areifa'stened to the top in soon that there iare' n'o-b'olts-or titfi'f'fasthirig projecting above the top of the table.

Still another'object of the invention is to" pro- Vide' a foliiin'gstalcileconstructionhaving a novel means-'for hdldi ngethe supfiorting; legs in either folded:- or extended-position.

Yet-another object 7 of the invention is to pro: vide a foldingsta'bl construction in' which themeans for holding thetsufipbrtingilegs positioned withrespect to the top is readily manuall r'eleasable. y

A further object of-theinventio'n is'to provide afolding-table construction wherein the support ing legs can be-easilyand quickly 'moved between folded'and extended pos-it-ions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a'- folding-table construction wherein-the table is essentially rigid when the supportingilegsoccupy extended positions."

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be. apparentduring the-course of the following descriptioni In the-draWing-Jforming apart ofthis specifica-- tion and: wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts: thrugh0ut=- the same,

Fig-14s a-pers-peotive view showing a'folding tableconstr-uction embodying, the invention;

Fig; -2 is a bottom plan view thereof; and,

Fig. 3is-an enlarged f-ragmentary, longitudinal sectional-view taken -on the line3'-3-'o'f Fig. 2;

In the drawing,- wherein' for the purpose ofillustration is shown a preferred" embodiment of the invention,- the numeral" I0 designates a=table= top-of more or lessconventionat shape'and const-ruction.- The top -l 0 conveniently can be'mad'e" ofplywood and preferably-is made from a" single" piece of material: The top 40 here-shown byway: of illustration is generally; rectangular in shape and is. nailed or otherwise fastened on a generally r -z-ctangn1ar frame whichcomprises' a pair of" paralleb longitudinal side'membersl 2 and a" pair of transverse end members 14': Generall triangularpieces I t ai'e'provide'd at the 'corners'of 5 the frame-to strengthen and reinforce 'th'efisame'; and transverse reinforcinga'm'embers I8 extend 'tran's' versely'acro'ss-the top I 0 adjacent and 'para11el to 2. theehd frameme'mb'ers I'll. Preferably; the'mem ber's 'l'fl are recessed-into the side-frame members t2;'asbest'shown'inFig; 2.

The top assembly hereinabov'e described is rel V ativelji light? in Weight but at the s'ametime" is suflici'ently" strong and rugged to' Withstand the ham dling and abuse -fi0"-Whi6h it is subject'ed in 7 use." This construction is"suitab1e=-f6r' a top' of -the 'size' and shape hei'e shown ,but it" may be-varied accordin to the exigencies of the particular situa'tion. The-*top'tmay be.'-o'f"any 'dsired"sizeand may haveany snitable 'shape The instant" inventionis cancer-nee primarily With the foldabie 'suhifiozting striiiitiire'for the toriassembly and WitH tH m-anher iiiw'hichth'e' su'p- Dortirig strud'tilr is asshibled an c'rf'lated withthe top alsseinbly. T of -the type-here shown sr usee esaefisiveiy b 'hbi'Ii-klg forbamqliet:- purposes or whenever extra. tables' are reqiiired. Also; the tahles of "tins-*tybear widely used' by dbartriient stores" 015 extra counters arid the like;- it is essential thattaijle's" of this'" type be foldaible'" s'of' that they can be stored compactiy when not if use; a'iiddt is eitced'irig'ly' clt'esiralole I A eflightiriweigiit so that the'y'can' be easily h'a'iidledi Also? it"is" essential that" the tabie's'whfiei'c te'd, b' ri The" supporting structurehere shbwfi"is nechanicaily'siinioleafid' i'tflcaii' be manufactured relatively inexpensively? This is im' sfiiE'e V i ,.="i'v"esf the-- maker a giagilfaffififi iEdVafiitEggifi a Highly competitive ce'nt'eacher'id Eff-the table a'ridfsi'ne these sapfidr'ts ar'e' id'ntioa'lg'l a aetaii a desenptien of one vvillfsiiflife. Thesflidiibits L2Q l referab lyaYe made of tiibiilar'metaIfparts-which are-weided or other Wisefastened solidly tog-etherj Each subport; 2 0; comprises a pain of parallel leg-4 elements- 2 2' whichaEe ponnected at one end to a transverse member 2 4.-- The" leg elements 2 2 are-spaced- 'so as to lie-betweer -and parallel to the side frame-"memben [2; and-- the-transverse --ele= ment-24 is formedwithdaterally projecting journ a-l portions 26* which are rotatabiy supported bybearingblocks 28 fastened to f the side frame members-121 Asecoridtransverseelement 30 101115 the -1eg element- 2 2-intemiediate th ends of the" latter.- The seoond transverse-element 'is dis posed parallel to "'the -transverse"supporting element 24- anwprefer'amy. is 'loated 'closer" to the attached ends of the 1egs-"than"t0"the 'free" ends thereof Fiom the ab ov it will b'Teadiiy J an: parent' that -'th"e' deg: or sufipo'rting assemblies '20 generally at 4!! and 42 can be swung on the journals 26 between folded positions (Fig. 2) and extended positions (Fig. 1).

In order to hold the leg assemblies either in extended or in folded position, I provide each assembly with a generally U-shaped latch member 32. Sleeves 34 on the ends of the latch members 32 surround the transverse leg elements 30 and provide pivotal connections between the supporting leg structures and the latch members 32. The bight portions 36 of the latch member 32 overlie a catch bar 38 which extends medianly along the undersurface of the top In and is located substantially midway between the supporting structure 20. Each latch member 32 is adapted to occupy either one of two positions indicated in Fig. 3 on the catch bar 38.

When the supporting structures 20 are folded, the bight portions 36 of latch members 32 occupy the positions 40, and when the supporting structures 2B are extended, thebight portions 36 c.- cupy the positions 42. When the supporting structures 20 are moved between raised and folded positions, the bight portions 36 slide along the lands 44 which connect the. twopositions 40 and 42. Both the. middle portions 46 of the catch bar- 38. (i. e., that portion of thebar between thetwo positions) and the. end portions .48 thereof are embossed to extend below the lands 44.

A leaf spring 50 extends across the middle portion 46. of catchbar38 and theportionsthereof which extend from the middle portion incline angularly toward the lan s. 4A., A cover plate 52 overlie the spring 50, This; plate extends the full length of the cat h bar 33 and is fastened the o b cr s. One screw .iS.P 0 i. at each end of the. catch bar 38 and one screw extends into the middle portion 46 thereof through the leaf spring 50.

In this connectiomit will be observed that the two outer positions 42 are recessed into, the catch bar 38 to provide notches inwhich the bight portions of latch members 32 engage. Also, it will be observed that the end portions of spring 50 engage the catch bar 38 at the juncture of the notched positions 42 and the lands ,44. Further,

the leaf spring projects across the notched positions 42 to retain the latch members therein, In

order to assure a pressed engagement between the leafspring 0 and the catch bar 38 at the juncture of notched positions 42 and lands 44 so that the leaf spring will holdfthe catch members solidly in the notches, themiddle'portion of the leaf spring is archedas shown in Fig. 3. Thus when the middle scfew54istightened, the arched middle portion ofthe leaf spring 50 is flattened and the spring is stressed so' as ,to press the ends thereof upwardly against the catch bar 38.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that when the supporting structures are folded under the top If! and the bight portions 36 of the latch members 32 occupy the inner positions 40, the inclined terminal portions of the leaf: spring 50 resist outward movement of the bight portionsalong the lands 44. As-a result, the leaf spring 50 holds the latchmembers. 32 wedged tightly against the catch bar and thus holds the supporting. structures .20 in folded positions against the top [0. However, thepressure of leaf spring 5!) against latch members .32 is yieldableand the supporting structures 211v can be. readily swung,

manually outwardlyv to extended positions' As the supporting structures 20. are swung to. extended positions, the bight portions 36. ride outwardly along the lands 44; against the action of spring 50. The spring 50 yields to permit movement of the latch member 32; however, as soon as the bight portions 36 enter the outer notched positions 42, leaf spring 50 resumes its normal position to hold the bight portions 36 in the notches 42. Thus in the latter position of supporting structures 20, the leaf spring 50 again acts to hold the bight portion 36 pressed solidly against the catch bar 38 and thus holds the supporting structures 20 solidly in extended position. Conversely, to return the supporting structures 20 to folded positions, it is merely necessary to press the latch members 32 downwardly against the action of spring 50 until the bight portion 36 disengage the notches 42. The supporting structures 20 can thenbe swung to closed positions, As the legs swing upwardly the latch members 32 slide inwardly along the lands 44 to the inner positions 40.

It may thus be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a table having supporting structures or legs which are movable between folded and extended positions. The supporting structures are heldrigidly in both positions by mechanically simple yet high,- 1y efiicient fastening means. The entire structure is relatively simple to maintain manufacturing costs at a minimum. At the same time, the table is sufficiently strong and rugged in construction to withstand handling and abuse to which it is subjected in use.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape, and ar-. rangement of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A foldable table comprising a table top, foldable leg assemblies at opposite ends of said top and means for holding said leg assemblies in either extended or folded position including a bar secured to the undersurface of said top at substantially the middle thereof, said bar having a separate bearing surface for each of said leg assemblies and a notch at the outer end of each bearing surface, a separate latch element pivoted to each of said leg assemblies and slidable on respective bearing surfaces when said leg assemblies are moved between folded and extended positions, said latch elements entering said notches when the leg assemblies are fully extended to hold said assemblies in extended positions, and a leaf spring having an upwardly arched middle portion fastened to the bar between said bearing surfaces and having oppositely extending arm portions, said arched middle portion holding the inner ends of said arm portions spaced away from said bearing surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements between said 'arms and said bearing surfaces at the inner ends of'the latter and to position said arms so that they gradually approach said bearing surfaces toward the outer'ends thereof and bear against such surfaces at the junctures thereof with said notches, said arm portions overlying said bearing surfaces and having freely movable terminal portions projecting across said notches, said arm portions being spaced below the. inner ends of said surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements therebetween and bearing against the outer ends of said surfaces so as to hold the latch elements in said notches.

2, A. foldable table comprising a table top, fold able leg assemblies at opposite ends of said top and means for holding said leg assemblies in either extended or folded position including a bar secured to the undersurface of said top at substantially the middle thereof, said bar having a separate bearing surface for each of said leg assemblies and a notch at the outer end of each bearing surface, a separate latch element pivoted to each of said leg assemblies and slidable on respective bearing surfaces when said leg assemblies are moved between folded and extended positions, said latch elements entering said notches when the leg assemblies are fully extended to hold said assemblies in extended positions, a leaf spring having an upwardly arched middle portion fastened to the bar between said bearing surfaces and having oppositely extending arm portions, said arm portions overlying said bearing surfaces and having freely movable terminal portions projecting across said notches, said arm portions being spaced below the inner ends of said surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements therebetween and bearing against the outer ends of said surfaces so as to hold the latch elements in said notches, and means engaging said spring arm at the junctures of said arched portion and said arm portions to hold the arm portions in pressed engagement with said bar.

3. A foldable table comprising a table top, foldable leg assemblies at opposite ends of said top and means for holding said leg assemblies in either extended of folded position including a bar secured to the undersurface of said top at substantially the middle thereof, said bar having a separate bearing surface for each of said leg assemblies and a notch at the outer end of each bearing surface, a separate latch element pivoted to each of said leg assemblies and slidable on respective bearing surfaces when said leg assembles are moved between folded and extended positions, said latch elements entering said notches when the leg assemblies are fully extended to hold said assemblies in extended positions, and a leaf spring having an upwardly arched middle portion fastened to the bar between said bearing surfaces and having oppositely extending arm portions, said arm portions overlying said bearing surfaces and having freely movable terminal portions projecting across said notches, said arm portions being spaced below the inner ends of said surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements therebetween and bearing against the outer ends of said surfaces so as to hold the latch elements in said notches, a cover plate fastened to the bar and bearing against said spring at the junctions of said arched middle portion and said arm portions in such manner as to cause inward flexing of said spring and thereby place said spring under tension to hold the arm portions in pressed engagement with said bar.

4. A foldable table comprising a table top, foldable leg assemblies at opposite ends of said top and means for holding said leg assemblies in either extended or folded position including a bar secured to the undersurface of said top at substantially the middle thereof, said bar having a separate bearing surface for each of said leg assemblies and a notch at the outer end of each bearing surface, a separate latch element pivoted to each of said leg assemblies and slidable on respective bearing surfaces when said leg assemblies are moved between folded and extended positions, said latch elements entering said notches when the leg assemblies are fully extendedto hold said assemblies in extended positions, a leaf spring having an upwardly arched middle portion fastened to the bar between said bearing surfaces and having oppositely extending arm portions, said arm portions overlying said bearing surfaces and having freely movable terminal portions projecting across said notches, said arm portions being spaced below the inner ends of said surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements therebetween and bearing against the outer ends of said surfaces so as to hold the latch elements in said notches, a cover plate fastened to the bar and bearing against said spring at the junctions of said arched middle portion and said arm portions in such manner as to cause inward flexing of said spring and thereby place said spring under tension to hold the arm portions in pressed engagement with said bar, and means for controlling the pressure exerted by the cover plate against the spring whereby to regulate the tensioning of said spring.

5. A foldable table comprising a table top, foldable leg assemblies at opposite ends of said top and means for holding said leg assemblies in either extended or folded position including a bar secured to the undersurface of said top at substantially the middle thereof, said bar having a separate bearing surface for each of said leg assemblies and a notch at the outer end of each bearing surface, a separate latch element pivoted to each of said leg assemblies and slidable on respective bearing surfaces when said leg assemblies are moved between folded and extended positions, said latch elements entering said notches when the leg assemblies are fully extended to hold said assemblies in extended positions, a leaf spring having an upwardly arched middle portion fastened to the bar between said bearing surfaces and having oppositely extending arm portions, said arm portions overlying said bearing surfaces and having freely movable terminal portions projecting across said notches, said arm portions being spaced below the inner ends of said surfaces so as to accommodate the latch elements therebetween and bearing against the outer ends of said surfaces so as to hold the latch elements in said notches, a cover plate fastened to the bar and bearing against said spring at the junctions of said arched middle, portion and said arm portions in such manner as to cause inward flexing of said spring and thereby place said spring under tension to hold the arm portions in pressed engagement with said bar, and a screw extending upwardly through said cover plate and the arched middle portion of said spring and into said bar, said screw holding the middle portion of said cover plate pressed against the spring to tension the latter and to maintain the arm portions of the spring in pressed engagement with the bar.

FRANCIS J. WOODRUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 152,355 Fling et al. June 23, 1874 910,354 Burlingame Jan. 19, 1909 1,165,991 Maggs Dec. 28, 1915 1,806,091 Simpson May 19, 1931 2,131,594 Miller Sept. 27, 1938 

